Russian leadership is skillful at evading its responsibility for the war it has started in Ukraine. It began the war in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and occupation of Donbas, resulting in about 7 percent of Ukraine’s territory falling under Russia’s illegal control.  In 2014, Russia masked its aggression with fake and illegal referendum in Crimea and proxy entities in parts of Donbas.  At first Russia presented them as “republics,” but eight years later recognized their “independence.”

Russia decided this wasn’t enough. 

On February 24, Russia proceeded with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by land, air, and sea under false pretext of “protecting” people in Donbas, who had been under Russian oppression since 2014.  Russia, as a nuclear power, has decided to invade Ukraine supposedly in “self-defense.” Russia is a “false flag country” because it uses propaganda and falsehoods to evade responsibility for its actions.